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Our Passion for Preservation

At Western States Envelope & Label, we recognize that the earth’s natural resources are gifts. Gifts that should be treasured and respected. That’s why we take an active role in environmental responsibility.

Paper, printing, envelopes, labels—as industries we’ve often been considered adversaries rather than stewards of the environment. But that’s simply not true. Times have changed. Companies like ours are more committed than ever to making sustainability part of our daily operations. From certifications and partnerships to recycled papers and reusable envelopes, Western States demonstrates environmental stewardship through these initiatives:

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification

Many of our envelopes are manufactured with FSC certified paper. The FSC’s mission is to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. It works to eliminate habitat destruction, water pollution, and the violence against people and wildlife that can accompany logging operations. Our FSC certified products are made from certified fibers of well-managed forests. To learn more:

SFI Inc. is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving a sustainable forestry certification program that is internationally recognized and is the largest single forest standard in the world. When you order one of our many SFI certified products, you can be confident you’re buying paper from certified forests or certified paper sourcing. To learn more:

Two Sides is commited to promoting the truth about paper. As they say - there's two sides to every story. Their mission is to promote the responsible production and use of print and paper, and dispel common misconceptions by providing people with verifiable information. Western States is a proud member, as we strongly believe in promoting the responsible use of the world's resources, especially paper.

You can also view a video and poster created through TwoSides that promote the use of paper and bust some common misconceptions.

Environmental Products

Reduce mailing inventories by 50%. Use 35 % less paper while eliminating inserting and fulfillment costs. Encourage end users to recycle their envelopes…These are just a few ways you can be greener with Western States. We're exclusive manufacturers of several products that specifically promote sustainability. See our comprehensive list to learn more or place an order.

Reduced Ink Usage

We employ technologies such as our revolutionary ink-mixing machine that delivers accurate, high-quality, eco-friendly color printing. The Rexon Color Point Advanced reduces environmental impact and saves on VOC and ISO reporting and disposal costs; it uses just enough product while it promotes recycling of old, redundant or slow-moving ink stock.

Company-wide Recycling

Since we implemented an expanded company-wide recycling program in 2008, we’ve saved more than 65 tons of waste from going to landfills. We also cut our shredded waste costs in half when we converted it into recyclable chip and mix bails and boxes. In addition, our label facility has a “zero waste” goal—all waste paper from our label operation is turned into fuel pellets that generate energy. This keeps 40,000 pounds of waste per month out of landfills. Learn some ideas and tips for recycling.

Energy Efficient Facilities

We’re always looking for ways to minimize our energy consumption at our locations. For instance, our label facility in Sun Prairie, WI is built with tilt-up concrete walls to provide better insulation and a 50% savings in energy costs.